Councils are a layer of governance, does not hold govt accountable: Pres

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said last night that the government will work hard to develop every island but electing a candidate that may push the brakes on it during the upcoming Local Council Election is not sensible.

President Muizzu said this in connection to the Local Council Election to be held on 4th April during the official opening ceremony of the PNC Office.

While giving an example to councils that do not cooperate with the government, President Muizzu said that various projects that have been signed two to three months ago have not begun as of yet due to councils not handing over plots to the government, with this coming to his attention per a list.

The President said that the government needs the plots for things such as mosques, health centers and increasing school capacity.

"Who is being harmed here? The residents of the islands. We do not want this to happen. We do not want it to repeat or continue for a second time. That option and power will be in the hands of island residents in a few short days," said President Muizzu while gesturing to the upcoming Local Council Election.

The President went on to say that after the Local Council Election, he wants several government policies to move forward with haste. However, the President said that it can only be done with the cooperation of whoever is elected by residents.

As President Muizzu said last night, local councils do not have the legal capacity to hold the government accountable. He also said that electing councilors to keep the government accountable is, first and foremost, a bad signal.

"Why is that? The law clearly states who can hold the government accountable. The councils are a layer of governance that have had its power split into three systems," said President Muizzu.

"Ministers who have been elected by citizens conduct daily municipal tasks that allow the enforcement of government policies through their aid in completing the work handed to them, with councilors being elected to cooperate for the development of islands and providing services to islands."

The President said that if councilors are elected in order to hold the government accountable, the development of that region will grind to a halt. Instead, such councils are to work politically in order to make sure the government's pledges do not come to pass, said the President.

"That is not what we want. We want to quickly develop this nation. We want to establish peace in this country and move quickly to fulfill the responsibility I have undertaken so that I can make the pledges I have been entrusted to a reality," said President Muizzu.